Asymmetric Active Optical Cable for Signal Integrity and Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical interconnection technologies for connecting server nodes and switch nodes in data centers face challenges in meeting signal integrity and transmission distance requirements while being cost-effective and energy-efficient, particularly with increasing data transmission rates.
Innovation Solution
The active optical cable employs different signal processing technologies at its two ends, using non-digital signal processing for the server node and more advanced processing for the switch node, reducing power consumption and cost while maintaining signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital signal processing technology is used in both optical transceiving apparatuses, then signal integrity is improved, but power consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different signal processing technologies to different optical transceiving apparatuses based on their specific requirements. The first optical transceiving apparatus (connected to server node) uses non-digital signal processing, while the second optical transceiving apparatus (connected to switch node) uses digital signal processing. This local differentiation ensures signal integrity where needed while reducing power consumption and cost where full digital processing is not necessary.
2Reliability
If digital signal processing technology is used in both optical transceiving apparatuses, then signal integrity is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by tailoring the signal processing capability to the specific needs of each end of the optical cable. The server node side uses simpler, less expensive non-digital signal processing, while the switch node side uses more capable but expensive digital signal processing. This asymmetric design maintains signal integrity for the overall system while reducing the total cost compared to using digital signal processing in both apparatuses.
3Adaptability or versatility
If direct contact copper cables are used for long distance connections, then connection requirements are met, but transmission distance capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces copper-based electrical signal transmission with optical signal transmission using optical fibers. This substitution enables much longer transmission distances while maintaining connection capability. The optical transceiving apparatuses convert electrical signals to optical signals for transmission through the optical communication medium, overcoming the distance limitations of direct attach copper cables.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces power consumption and cost while ensuring signal integrity for both server and switch nodes, making it suitable for high data transmission rates.
Implementation Method 1
an optical communication medium; a first optical transceiving apparatus and a second optical transceiving apparatus respectively connected at two ends of the optical communication medium
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present specification provide an active optical cable, an optical communication network and an optical communication method, where according to different connection requirements of a server node and a switch node, the active optical cable is set with optical transceiving apparatuses based on different signal processing technologies at two ends of an optical communication medium, i.e., a first optical transceiving apparatus and a second optical transceiving apparatus. Considering that a network card of the server node is small and signal integrity is easy to ensure, therefore, a signal processing technology used by the first optical transceiving apparatus connected to the server node does not include a digital signal processing technology with high power consumption and cost (i.e., a non-digital signal processing technology), so that the active optical cable reduces the cost and the power consumption of the active optical cable while meeting respective signal integrity requirements of the server node and the switch node.